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Council advised school tax may be set separately; special budget hearing scheduled for June 3
Summary
City Attorney advised the council the school tax portion of the proposed budget can be voted separately so members employed by the school system may recuse from only that vote; the City Manager’s budget letter and a special called public hearing on the FY 2024/2025 budget are scheduled for June 3 at 6 p.m.
Mayor Pro Tem Scott Styers reported that City Attorney Misti Whitman advised the council the school tax portion of the proposed budget can be voted separately, allowing council members who are Thomasville City School employees to recuse from the school tax vote while participating in other budget votes. Deputy City Manager Eddie Bowling said council could adopt a separate resolution to set the school tax rate so affected members could avoid voting on that resolution; City Manager Michael Brandt cautioned that if the council changes the tax rate prior to adoption of the budget ordinance, those school-employee councilors could be prevented from voting on the budget ordinance because of their affiliations. Minutes note the votes of Council Member JacQuez Johnson and potentially Hunter Thrift may be affected depending on the council’s approach.
Separately, the council placed the City Manager’s budget letter on the register and scheduled a special called meeting for June 3, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at 20 Stadium Drive for a public hearing on the proposed FY 2024/2025 budget.
Mayor Raleigh York, Jr. also reminded members that group texts or blanket emails involving a majority of council can constitute a public meeting and are therefore not permitted outside an open meeting; he urged limiting electronic circulation to avoid creating an unintended quorum.
The briefing recorded advice and scheduling but no formal vote on tax-setting or the budget ordinance at the May 13 meeting; the June 3 special meeting will provide the public hearing opportunity and is the next procedural step.
